Help Me God, I'm Discouraged Series

Alba 8-18-13 (Revised 10-23-2022)

HELP ME GOD, I'M DISCOURAGED

John 10:10

I don’t know if this story about Abraham Lincoln is true or not, but the story is told that Lincoln was surprised one day when a rough looking man drew a revolver and pushed it in his face. "Abe" figured that debate or argument was out of the question.

"What seems to be the matter?" asked Lincoln, with all the calmness and self-confidence he could muster.

"Well," replied the stranger, who did not appear at all excited, "some years ago I swore an oath that if I ever came across an uglier man than myself, I’d shoot him on the spot."

A feeling of relief came over Lincoln at this point. "Shoot me," Lincoln said to the stranger, "for if I am an uglier man than you, I don’t want to live."

Our world is full of unhappy, dissatisfied and discouraged people. Today's message is about the emotion of discouragement: Help Me God, I'm Discouraged!

Discouragement comes to everyone at some time or other. Many are discouraged about life. Discouraged about a job search or career. Discouraged about weight loss or gaining weight. Discouraged about dating. Discouraged about being single. Discouraged in marriage.

For this reason, people everywhere are looking for answers to the emptiness they feel inside. They will try anything, if it might bring them some sort of satisfaction or happiness.

The devil, according to legend, once advertised his tools for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one oddly shaped tool which was labeled "Not for sale."

Asked to explain why this was, the devil answered, "I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. This the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. If I get this tool into a man's heart, the way is open to plant anything I may desire."

Perhaps this explains why there is so much divorce, suicide, thoughts of suicide, drug dependency, alcohol abuse, criminal behavior, prostitution, sexual impurity, depression, pornography, eating disorders, emotional and psychological disorders.

Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” We are messed up. So, what is the solution?

There is an answer to the eternal question, "How do we overcome discouragement and find happiness and satisfaction in life?" Jesus stated in John 10:10 the purpose for why He came.

He said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

The purpose for Jesus coming into this world is to bring life. He purchased eternal life by dying on that cross and taking the punishment we deserve for our sins. For those who believe in Him there is forgiveness of those sins, and a life that is eternal.

The life He gives helps us to overcome the discouragements we so often face. But there is an enemy of the peace and joy that we can have in Christ. So...

1. Beware of the Enemy

Jesus said in John 10:10 that Satan’s purpose is to “steal and kill and destroy”. We live in a land where things get stolen all the time. Identity theft is something we have heard much about during the past few years.

Incidents of various types of identity theft have more than doubled in recent years and now represent the leading consumer fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission, accounting for 42% of all complaints.

The real tragedy with identity theft is you may never realize that it has happened to you until you receive bills for a credit card you never had – or a bad credit report includes debts you never created – billing cycles pass and you don’t receive a statement – and charges appear on your bills that you did not authorize.

Identity theft can be very subtle in the beginning, and before you know it you find yourself attempting to prove your identity. It is not good to find yourself in the position of having to prove who you are to creditors or some local agency.

Jesus warns us of an identity thief, the Devil himself. In the spiritual realm, a kind of stealing is going on in many lives. The Devil is in the business of ripping off things that don’t belong to him!

The Devil doesn't need your car or your house, or your money. But he is interested in stealing Spiritual treasures. Things that have value with God and are of eternal significance.

When we become Christians, our identity is in Christ. And yes, identity theft does take place on the Spiritual Level. The devil does his best to steal our likeness to Christ.